Acute total hip arthroplasty with a highly-porous multi-holes cup in elderly patients after traumatic acetabular fracture: A case series and literature review

There are no general guidelines for the treatment of acetabular fractures. Open reduction and internal fixation is advised in young and active patients, while acute total hip arthroplasty (THA) is recommended for elderly patients in order to allow immediate weight bearing. Various THA systems have been reported.

We present four cases, mean age 79 years (range 67–92), of closed acetabular fractures managed with acute cementless THA, comprising a highly-porous multi-hole acetabular cup and a CLS-type femoral stem. After extensive pre-operative planning, autograft was used to fill in the acetabulum defects left by the trauma and the press-fit acetabular cup were implanted. One or more screws were used to improve primary stability and secure bone fragments. Patients were follow-up for mean 1.5 years (range 1.1–2.0). A Brooker III heterotopic ossification was the only complication occurred postoperatively. All the patients were satisfied, with a mean Harris Hip Score of 90 and Postel Merle D'Aubigné score of 16.3. There were no radiolucency lines nor osteolysis, showing that the cups were well osteointegrated and fractures united.

As the bone bed after acetabular fracture might be highly compromised, whenever acute THA is indicated, a highly-porous multi-hole cup could be used to limit radiolucency lines and aseptic loosening. The series is limited by the small number of cases but is significant for the promising results.